Gwen receives award from PCCI

 CEBU, Philippines - The day before her 57th birthday, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia received the award for the Province of Cebu as the Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“I am very, very happy actually and I share this award with all Cebuanos who have worked with us from the business sector, to our local government units,” Garcia said adding that the awarding ceremony yesterday was unexpected and very good coincidence as she is celebrating her 57th birthday today.

Cebu shares the award with the Province of Tarlac.

Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia, third district Rep. Pablo John Garcia, fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, Bogo City mayoral candidate  Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung and some Capitol department heads also attended the ceremony.

Gov. Garcia said that the award is a validation of the programs that her administration has initiated, specifically Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, One Cebu Expo, Obra Negosyo Eskwela, and other public-private partnerships.

Garcia made mention of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), the Filinvest Land Inc. and the Manila Water Company as private partners.

President Benigno Aquino III and PCCI president, lawyer Miguel Varela led the awarding ceremony held yesterday at Manila Hotel during the 38th Philippine Business Conference and Expo.

The PCCI also awarded the University of San Carlos the National Intellectual Property Award for Visayas and Mindanao for its integrated processes for the treatment of mango waste.

CCCI president Prudencio Gesta also received the Diamond Achievement Award as Most Outstanding Chamber Award for the Visayas and in the Philippines.

Gesta said that CCCI was elevated to Diamond Awardee because they have been hall of famer twice and eight times most outstanding chamber of the Philippines.

“They have to elevate us to give chance to others,” Gesta, who was installed as CCCI president last February, proudly said.

“Magaling sila compared to others sa kanilang mga programa,” Varela said.

The award is PCCI’s initiative to compliment the efforts of the government to streamline procedures in compliance with the Anti-Red Tape Act or RA 9485.

It seeks to recognize and promote models of governance of LGUs that have demonstrated outstanding efforts in instituting good governance reforms to promote trade and investment; ensure accountability, transparency and efficiency; and further competitiveness  of the LGUs.

“Ang pagkapanalo ng Cebu talagang wala kang magagawa, talagang panalo,” Valera said. 

Valera pointed out that the business-friendly policies of the LGUs in Cebu, such as making issuance of business permits hassle-free for investors, were the factors that made Cebu the winner. — /MBG (FREEMAN)